keep my 2014 Passat TDI or give it back and buy a 2015?

dcolello

New member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Location
California
TDI
2014 Passat SEL Premium
Hello all,

I've got a 2014 Passat SEL Premium as follows:

58,571 miles
original tires
original brakes
spoiler

I am definitely keeping a TDI Passat since I love the car so much, but I have two options:

- keep my current car, make the emissions mods, and pocket the $7,316 restitution payment

- hand in the car, get $28,966 and buy a used 2015 SEL Premium as follows:

12000 miles
1 owner, clean Carfax report
local VW dealer selling the car
phase 1 of emissions mods completed
no spoiler
3 months left on original warranty
2 year/24K Certified Pre-owned Warranty kicks in in 3 months ($50 deductible)
dealer asking price is $20,950

Doing the math and adding $2k in taxes and fees to the dealer asking price, gets me the 2015 for $22,950, leaving me $6,016 in my pocket compared to $7,316 if I keep the 2014. Getting the dealer down from their price evens out the costs almost 100%....but I lose my spoiler. :-(

It seems to me that it's a no-brainer to go for the 2015 due to the low mileage and warranty, assuming the physical condition of the 2015 is as good or better than mine.

Questions:
- Is there any reason to avoid the 2015 vs. the 2014 (reliability, engine, etc..)?
- The car has been on the market for a month...how much negotiating room is there likely to be, generally? I've always bought new...first time buying used.
- Am I missing anything obvious that would make me consider keeping the 2014?

Thanks in advance for any opinions...
 

mejpassat

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2014
Location
California
TDI
2015 Passat TDi (NOS), 2014 passat TDI (Buy back), 2001 Tdi Golf (Gifted to Son)
You are doing what I did, except I had a chance to get a new one.
I have not looked back.
The 2015 has the new generation engine. That was the main reason I did my deal.
 

BarryT82

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Location
Charleston, WV
TDI
‘12 JSW TDI
Sell it back, buy a used A6 TDI that hasn’t been repaired, and have the repair done to get the money. The 3.0 TDI is a great engine.
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
Jump on it, there should be at least 2,000 of negotiating room on price, if not more.

If you can do the deal without needing to give the '14 back the day of closing on the '15, you'll have more wiggle room if you go in with cold hard cash on the 29th, dealers have monthly sales quotas they need to meet.
 
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